China’s humanoid robots leap from stumbles to kung fu flips in one year

In mid-February, several Chinese humanoid robots took center stage at the country’s annual Spring Festival Gala on Lunar New Year’s Eve, widely considered the world’s most-watched television program. The show featured robots from multiple startups performing synchronized kung fu moves, dances, and gymnastics routines.

The broadcast generated more than 23 billion views across platforms, up 37.3% from the previous year and marking the highest live audience in 13 years, according to Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.

The performance contrasted sharply with the 2025 gala, when earlier humanoid models appeared less capable and performed a wobbly folk dance while twirling handkerchiefs. Public demonstrations around that time also fueled skepticism. A humanoid robot marathon held in April drew attention for repeated stumbles, crashes, and technical breakdowns, CNBC reported.

Within a year, however, improvements in motion control, balance, and coordination have led many observers to reassess the technology’s progress.

"People should absolutely be taking these robots seriously," Reyk Knuhtsen, analyst at SemiAnalysis, told CNBC. "After this spring gala demonstration, they're becoming visibly more lean, fluid, and capable."

"As we watch them push the physical boundaries humans are capable of, it becomes apparent they can achieve human-level actions, and eventually superhuman-level performances," he added.

China has already gained an early advantage in the manufacturing and deployment of humanoid robots. In 2025, Chinese companies shipped most of the roughly 13,000 humanoid robots delivered worldwide, far surpassing U.S. rivals such as Tesla and Figure AI, according to research firm Omdia.

China also accounted for more than 85% of the approximately 15,000 humanoid robot installations globally in 2025, compared with about 13% in the U.S., according to data from Barclays.

Despite the technological progress showcased at the gala, analysts said significant technical hurdles remain before humanoid robots can operate widely in real-world environments.

Omdia chief analyst Lian Jye Su said the improved dexterity demonstrated in routines such as aerial flips and weapon handling suggests strong potential for economic use in physically demanding tasks requiring delicate tool handling and precise movements.

However, he noted that humanoid robots must still prove reliable in complex, human-centric environments before they can perform delicate tasks such as healthcare assistance or household work.

Knuhtsen said the next phase of development will depend less on flashy demonstrations and more on practical capabilities such as improved reasoning, longer task execution, and the ability to combine multiple actions to complete real-world chores.